Challenge Your Exam Readiness With Our Free LEED Green Associate Practice Questions

LEED favors eliminating permanent potable irrigation by matching plant communities to climate and restoring soils for infiltration and water-holding capacity. When establishment watering is necessary, a temporary, efficient system (typically drip/microirrigation with ET/rain shutoff) is acceptable. The specifications and O&M plan should define decommissioning—capping laterals and removing controllers—after the establishment period. This approach credibly demonstrates sustained potable savings and reduces maintenance. Keeping permanent spray heads “for backup” undermines the claim and invites long-term use. Removing all planting for compliance sacrifices ecosystem services and heat-island mitigation. Indefinite hand-watering is labor-intensive, untracked, and fails to prove long-term reduction. The native/adapted + soil health + temporary irrigation package delivers resilient landscapes, supports stormwater performance, and simplifies WE documentation with a clear narrative and photos post-establishment.